One of the first things you will notice when meeting a Japanese person is the bow—an extremely important custom in Japan. When two people greet each other, they bow. This can range from a small nod of the head to a deep bow where the body is bent from the waist. The bow is also used to say thank you, apologise, make a request, or say goodbye.
The custom of bowing is used just about everywhere. If you are greeting someone of higher social status, you would usually perform a longer and lower bow, as this is considered exceptionally polite. You will probably encounter this bow when purchasing goods, as a mark of respect to the customer. The bow is usually done instead of a handshake, which is rarely used in Japan. However, it is not uncommon for a westerner to receive a handshake—especially in business settings or if you initiate one. The Japanese are extremely polite and will respect the western handshake custom, but it’s best to bow. Even if you are terrible at it, making an effort to bow will always be appreciated, and no one will mind if your bow isn’t perfect.
It is considered polite to return a bow, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself in a cycle of second or even third bows. You may also notice that women often place their hands together in front of them when bowing, while men typically keep their arms at their sides.
In many large department stores, you may encounter one or more shop assistants standing at the top of escalators, bowing as customers enter the floor or store. A simple nod in return is the proper response. Some of these assistants must get a sore neck and back after spending an entire day bowing to thousands of customers—but it’s all in a day’s work.
An apology bow is usually much deeper than a greeting bow. The person bowing bends at the waist, and their head often goes lower than their waistline. At times, you may wonder if they will topple over, but after years of practice, they remain perfectly balanced. With a bit of practice yourself, you’ll soon be bowing properly too.
Bowing in Japan is a friendly and easy custom to adopt, and making the effort will earn you respect. It’s a small gesture that helps bridge language and cultural gaps, making interactions much smoother.
